Right of education in separatist eastern region of Moldova at UN

STATEMENT

by H.E. Vlad Lupan, Ambassador,

Permanent Representative of the Republic of Moldova to the United Nations

during the general discussions under the agenda item 68 (b) and (c),

Third Committee, 69^th session of the United Nations General Assembly

M Chair,

The Republic of Moldova is fully committed to the protection of human rights and commends the intense work of the United Nations bodies involved in the promotion and respect of human rights all over the world.

My country remains fully supportive to the Secretary General’s Strategic Framework for 2014-2015, involving thematic priorities such as combat discrimination, promoting rule of law and accountability, fighting violence, inequality and continuing efforts to improve international human rights mechanisms, and widening the democratic space. We share these priorities and bring our national contributions, as well best regional practices, to these priorities.

Thus, being an active member of the Council of Europe (CoE) and in the European Union-Republic of Moldova human rights dialogue, we have steadily contributed to further enhancing the coordination and increasing synergies among international and regional mechanisms. We firmly believe that such an approach brings more efficiency and further consolidates results in fulfillment and promotion of human rights.

As an example of regional commitments taken at the CoE, EU and relevant for the United Nations, the Republic of Moldova took the decision to abolish the death penalty in 1995, four years after its independence. Since adopting this decision the Republic of Moldova has consistently supported and promoted the abolition of death penalty in all relevant international fora, including CoE, EU and the UN. Accordingly, the Republic of Moldova became a core group co-sponsor of the HRC resolution on the abolition of death penalty now, and uses this opportunity to call on all states to join a global moratorium on the death penalty as a first step towards its abolition. This example of national, regional and international joint approach proves how this multi-layered approach can strengthen our coordination and synergies in respect of human rights.

Speaking about universal mechanisms, as a candidate to the Human Rights Council for the term 2020-2022, the Republic of Moldova stresses that the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) has proved to be an important tool to promote the implementation of the human rights nationally and internationally. We are glad that this mechanism reconfirmed its usefulness yet again this year. The Republic of Moldova is attaching great importance to this exercise and, for example, organized the 4^th French-speaking seminar on the UPR together with IOF and the OHCHR on 11-12 April 2014, in Chisinau. This event offered a good experience sharing platform in implementation of the UPR recommendations and finding best ways to improve UPR durability. In this context, we share the view that greater priority should be given to implementation and follow-up to the recommendations made by the UPR, Treaty Bodies and Special Procedures for real impact of human rights on the ground. As a country that has streamlined the recommendations of the UPR, Treaty Bodies and regional organizations in the National Human Rights Action Plan, we can confirm that this is, indeed, an efficient tool for systematic implementation of human rights and can be a useful example for other UN member states.

M Chair,

Promotion and, particularly, protection of human rights is a justified and moral priority around the world today. Violations of human rights may be indeed a serious indicator not only of ongoing, but also of potential crises. We believe that the promotion of the Rights Up Front Initiative, with a growing number of Member States and intergovernmental bodies, as well as the determination within the United Nations to anchor human rights throughout the work of the Organization, should help strengthening the ability of the United Nations to respond in a timely and effective manner to human rights situations of concern and might help prevent crises as well.

As there is a shift in the security developments around the world, so does the pattern of attention to the human rights needs to include these developments. Human rights related problems are rising in conjunction to security developments inside the states. Some of these concerns are not new, however, and show the need to keep our attention to such problems as frozen conflicts. We continue to be concerned about the human rights situation in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova. Due to the unresolved conflict the region remains outside the monitoring process of the national and international human rights mechanisms. In terms of ensuring outreach, dissemination and compliance with the international standards on human rights, the region remains an unexploited territory. While the Republic of Moldova devotes extensive efforts to ensure respect of the rights of individuals in accordance with the national and international legal framework, the human rights represents one of the priorities on the agenda of negotiation process aimed at resolving this protracted conflict. One of the human rights topics which are constantly on the agenda of Moldovan Government is the situation around functioning of the Moldova-administered Latin Script Schools situated in the Transnistrian region. Throughout the years, the schools experienced various forms of pressure and intimidation from different Transnistrian structures. Currently these schools are operating in an environment of uncertainty and insecurity and confront with a number of challenges including discriminatory policies. The Government of the Republic of Moldova is committed to identify solutions through dialogue. In parallel central authorities are constantly appealing to the Transnistrian side to refrain from any unilateral actions that could lead to the deterioration of conditions in which schools are operating. Permanent attention by our international partners to this issue is still much needed.

M Chair,

In a year from now, the new development agenda with the SDGs at its core will come to complement the existing Millennium Development Goals. We need to stress the relevance of strengthening the linkages between the three dimensions of the sustainable development. We know there is an inseparable relationship between sustainable development and human rights, because the respect for human rights means empowerment, and empowerment is as a prerequisite for development. A human rights-based approach is essential to development progress.

Therefore, M Chair, in conclusion, I want to assure you of the Republic of Moldova’s commitment to further engage in the promotion and protection of human rights worldwide.

I thank you!